Nature's Variety, Honest Kitchen, Hy-Vee Issue Dog Food Recalls

Nature’s Variety, The Honest Kitchen and the Hy-Vee supermarket chain have voluntarily recalled assorted dog foods because of either a choking risk, potential salmonella contamination or elevated levels of aflatoxin.

No illnesses or injuries were reported with any of the products.

Nature’s VarietyThe recalls began Feb. 15 when St. Louis-based Nature’s Variety called out a single batch of Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula with a best-by date of 10/04/13. Some bags may contain pieces of clear plastic that could pose a choking risk to pets.

Consumers may return the food for a refund or exchange. More information is available at 888-519-7387.

The Honest KitchenSan Diego-based The Honest Kitchen recalled five lots of its Verve, Zeal and Thrive dog foods Feb. 21 because of potential salmonella contamination. The food was produced from August to November 2012 and sold nationwide in the United States and Canada.

Some food from Nature's Variety, The Honest Kitchen and Hy-Vee was voluntarily recalled.

The ingredient in question was a batch of human-grade parsley received from a supplier that no longer does business with The Honest Kitchen, said Lucy Postins, the company’s founder and CEO.

“While our quality-control tests did not find evidence of salmonella in any of our finished products, we are accountable for everything we make and are taking precautionary action to ensure the safety and integrity of our products,” Postins said.

The company reported that it began additional quality-control steps, including steaming dehydrated leafy greens and conducting a second pathogen test on all leafy greens.

Hy-Vee Inc.Some bags of Hy-Vee dog food were recalled because of elevated levels of a chemical commonly found in corn, the West Des Moines, Iowa-based grocer reported Feb. 22.

The chemical, aflatoxin, is naturally occurring and is produced by the mold fungus aspergillus. Pets that ingest higher-than-normal levels of aflatoxin, especially over a period of time, may become ill, the company reported.

The food was distributed from Oct. 26, 2012, to Jan. 11, 2013, at Hy-Vee stores in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin.